Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate DuCasse.
Hi Nate, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Although I grew up in California, I did not grow up with a lot of exposure to farms. As most people do though, I had a decent understanding of their importance on a societal level, in that they provide food for their surrounding community.
This dynamic has changed quite a bit as modern agricultural practices have been adopted by the developed world, however, farms are still vital to communities in developing areas. I have always been drawn to helping those less fortunate than myself, and I saw that studying agriculture was a great door to actively helping others.
That is why I am pursuing a degree in Sustainable Farming Systems at USU, and managing the university student organic farm has been a phenomenal way to get hands-on experience in the field!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, thus far, it has been a very smooth road, opportunities just seem to keep presenting themselves! I’m sure there will be many potholes in the future, but I am very blessed.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A student farm is a group that broke ground in 2008, and for the past 14 years, it has been a fully student-operated, certified organic farm. It started as a club with a few volunteers and some seed purchased through a donation, and from that point, we have grown to the point of having 5 paid student farmers through AmeriCorps and a full season of vegetable production!
The farm is entirely self-sustaining, making the majority of our profit through a CSA program in which we sell 55 veggie shares to local community members. They get to stop by and pick up a bag or two full of fresh veggies harvested that day, along with other items from local businesses such as bread or cheese. As it is a student farm there are some less productive seasons, but the back of the university graciously gives us that margin for error.
The USU Student Organic Farm is a fantastic operation that gives the student farmers (and our lovely volunteers) the chance to run a fully operational vegetable farm. In addition, it provides a great teaching location for university classes, and the opportunity for the Logan community to engage.
What makes you happy?
This could be a very long list, at the top of which would be my lovely girlfriend, but to keep it simple I would say that seeing all of our little seedlings popping up out in the fields.
It’s such a joyful time of year with all of the greenery and new life, and envisioning the fields absolutely lush with fresh produce in the coming weeks is so exciting!
Contact Info:
- Email: organicfarm@aggiemail.usu.edu
- Website: http://usuorganicfarm.weebly.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/usustudentorganicfarm?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: @usuorganicfarm
Image Credits
USU Student Organic Farm, McKenzie Israelsen, Melanie Robinson, Icelyn Ionel, and Madison Vasa
